Clausena lansium

Clausena lansium is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae. This strongly scented evergreen tree reaches 3–8 m tall in height and is sometimes referred to by the common names wampee or wampi (from Cantonese 黃皮; 黄皮; wong4 pei4-2; 'yellow skin'),

Description

A small evergreen tree. It grows up to 6-10 m high. The leaves are 10-30 cm long and with leaflets along the stalk. There are 7-15 pairs of leaflets which are 7-10 cm long. The flowers are in open flower stalk arrangements on the ends of branches. The fruit is small, round and yellow-green. It has a sweet smell. Fruit are 2.5 cm across. The skin is thin and easily peeled off. It is pliable and leathery. The flesh has five segments which are colourless. There are 1-3 flat green seeds. There are some named cultivated varieties.

Edible Uses

The wampee is cultivated for its fruit, which is grape-sized and fragrant. Its skin and seeds are often eaten alongside the pulp, much like kumquat. The tree is popular in China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Less frequently, it is grown in India, Sri Lanka, and Queensland; occasionally, it is cultivated even in Florida and Hawaii. It is grown extensively in the New Territories of Hong Kong, and is a popular fruit among the indigenous Hakka villagers.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is eaten fresh or used in jellies. The skin and seeds are not eaten. The fruit can be preserved, dried, made into jams, pies or drinks. The leaves are used in curries. The juice is used for making a fermented champagne like drink.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves, fruits or seeds are all widely employed in China and Vietnam for the treatment of gastro-intestinal problems, including acute and chronic inflammation and ulcers. The fruit is said to have stomachic and cooling effects and to act as a vermifuge. The Chinese say that if one has eaten too many lychees, eating this fruit will counteract the bad effects. The halved, sun dried, immature fruit is a Vietnamese and Chinese remedy for bronchitis. Thin slices of the dried roots are a remedy for bronchitis. The leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat coughs, asthma, hepatitis and dermatological diseases. A decoction of the leaves is used as a hair wash to remove dandruff and preserve the colour of the hair.

Distribution

It is native to S. China. A subtropical fruit. It can withstand light frosts. They can grow in dry situations. It can grow on a range of well drained soils. It can grow in acid and alkaline soils. Iron chlorosis occurs on alkaline soils. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, China*, Cook Islands, Cuba, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed. Trees can easily be grown from softwood cuttings, air layering or grafting. As fruit occur near the tips of the branches pruning must only be done carefully.

Propagation

Seed - germination occurs in a few days. Greenwood cuttings Semi-ripe cuttings Air layering Veneer-grafted onto seedlings of the same species. The plant can be grafted onto some citrus rootstock, but long-term survivability is questionable.

Other Uses

The plant can be used as a rootstock for Citrus, provided a few twigs are left growing below the graft. Wood - white and close-grained. Resembles boxwood. The plant's dense growth makes it a good hedge plant.

Production

It is fast growing. Trees start to produce fruit after 3-6 years. It can grow in moderately cool and dry places. Plants fruit in about 6 years. A mature tree can yield 45-50 kg of fruit in a year.

Other Information

It is widely grown in southern China. It is a cultivated food plant.

Notes

There are about 23-30 Clausena species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Huangpi, Lansio, Mafai-jean, Pohon wampi, Song fa dong, Wong Pay, Yellow skin

References (40)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 130
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 64, p 102
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 119
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 585
• Chandrashekara, U. M., 2009, Tree species yielding edible fruit in the coffee-based homegardens of Kerala, India: their diversity, uses and management. Food Sec. 1:361-370 (As Clausena wampi)

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